Waiting Well: Mary's Song and Advent Hope

Devotional

Day 1: Hope that rejoices despite present fear.

Mary's response shows how to rejoice in God even amid terror, shame, or uncertainty; her soul and spirit choose praise not because circumstances have changed but because the Mighty One has noticed and is faithful, and from that posture of hope she moves outward to declare mercy for generations to come, modeling how a follower waits well by worshiping, remembering God's track record, and believing who God is even when outcomes differ from expectations. [49:45]

Luke 1:46-55 (NLT)
My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.

Reflection: When anxiety or shame arises today, name aloud one truth about God (for example, "He is merciful" or "He remembers his promises") and speak it into the specific situation that frightens you.

Day 2: God is the source and supplier of hope.

True Christian hope is not a mere desire but a person—God himself—who fills believers with joy and peace as they trust him, enabling them to overflow with confident, Spirit-powered hope that sustains waiting and transforms how they live in the present. [44:05]

Romans 15:13 (NLT)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with confident hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reflection: Identify one area where you're anxious this week; write a two-sentence prayer asking the God of hope to fill you with joy and peace about that specific issue, then take one concrete step today that demonstrates trust (a phone call, an emailed application, or a scheduled appointment).

Day 3: Hope is active waiting that renews strength.

Biblical hope is waiting in—not toward—God; it trains patience and trust so that the Lord renews strength for the journey, enabling followers to soar, run, and walk without fainting, which means waiting becomes a posture of trust and energized obedience rather than passive despair. [47:08]

Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Reflection: Choose one God-ward habit to practice daily this week (10 minutes of Scripture, a short prayer, or naming one of God's past faithful acts) specifically for the situation you're waiting on, and schedule it now on your calendar.

Day 4: Faith proves what hope already trusts.

Faith and hope are intertwined: faith gives evidence to what hope anticipates, enabling a person to act with assurance about realities not yet seen, so waiting becomes active faith rather than passive uncertainty. [41:42]

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Reflection: Make a brief list of one promise from Scripture you are hoping for; then decide on one faith-step you will take this week that assumes that promise is true (a call to reconcile, an application to pursue, forgiveness extended) and do it.

Day 5: Don't let deferred hope make you sick.

A hope deferred can wound the heart, but Mary models reclaiming hope by remembering God's mercy and promises, declaring his faithfulness aloud, and choosing to wait well—so reclaiming hope begins by remembering God's track record and using your voice to declare what you know about him even before the visible outcome arrives. [59:03]

Proverbs 13:12 (NLT)
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

Reflection: Identify one long-delayed dream or expectation that has left you discouraged; today, write down two specific memories of God's past faithfulness and speak a Scripture promise over that situation, then take one small practical step toward hope (reach out, journal next steps, or forgive one person involved).

Sermon Summary

I love Advent because it trains our hearts to live in God’s story—looking back to the first coming of Jesus, welcoming his presence now, and waiting for his return with confident expectation. Hope, in the way of Jesus, isn’t a vague feeling or a wish for better circumstances. Scripture reframes hope as expectation rooted in a Person—the God who is the source of hope and who has proven himself faithful in his coming. So our question isn’t just “What am I hoping for?” but “Who am I hoping in?” When God is the source, waiting is not wasted time; biblically, hope and waiting belong together.

Mary shows us how to wait well. Faced with fear, uncertainty, and social risk, she sings: “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.” Her circumstances didn’t lighten, yet her soul anchored in God’s character—his holiness, mercy, and track record. That’s the posture of real hope: not denial of reality, but defiant worship in the face of it. Mary begins with hope for herself—God has noticed me—and then lifts her eyes to declare hope for others: mercy from generation to generation. Hope that starts in us is meant to move through us.

We also talked about how easy it is to defer hope—especially when outcomes are delayed or different than expected. Proverbs warns that hope deferred makes the heart sick. The remedy isn’t grasping for control but re-anchoring in God’s promises and remaining faithful in the waiting. Like waiting for the service tech within a window, we don’t stand at the door; we tend to our lives with expectancy, trusting that the One who promised will arrive and do what he said. So we refuse fear-driven distraction and choose purposeful waiting—praying, serving, blessing, declaring the truth of who God is, even before we see it with our eyes.

Nothing horrible, surprising, or painful has the power to change who God is. Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection, and promised return are the immovable center of our hope. Today we receive fresh hope from the Spirit, choose to wait well, and let praise lead the way. Our prayer is simple: Father, our hope is in you. Do again in our time what you have promised—mercy upon mercy, generation to generation.

Key Takeaways

1. Hope rests in God Himself True hope is not a mood; it’s anchored in the God who calls Himself the “source of hope.” When God is the supplier, hope doesn’t rise and fall with our outcomes. It becomes resilient because it draws from his character, not our circumstances. Joy and peace flow as we trust, and the Spirit makes hope overflow. [44:05]
2. Waiting and hope are inseparable Biblically, to hope is to wait—and to wait is to hope. If God is the source, the length of the wait doesn’t drain hope; it deepens it. Waiting becomes formation: learning to trust what we cannot yet see. The question is not only what you’re waiting for, but how you are waiting. [47:08]
3. Mary teaches praise in crisis Mary’s song rises not after resolution, but in the middle of fear, confusion, and risk. She names God’s holiness and kindness before anything is proven outwardly. That is the defiance of worship: declaring who God is when evidence feels thin. Her soul leads where her circumstances cannot. [49:45]
4. Reject deferment; wait with purpose Hope deferred makes hearts sick, but hope re-anchored in God restores interior strength. Purposeful waiting keeps you engaged in prayer, mission, and blessing while you look for fulfillment. You don’t freeze at the door; you steward what’s in your hands with expectancy. That’s how hearts stay healthy in the delay. [60:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[41:42] - Advent: Past, Present, Future Hope
[44:05] - God, the Source of Hope
[47:08] - Hope and Waiting Redefined
[49:45] - Mary’s Magnificat Begins
[51:31] - Hope for Mary in Waiting
[54:12] - Anchor Hope in God’s Character
[56:11] - Hope for Generations and Nations
[59:03] - Waiting Well, Not Fearfully
[60:05] - Hope Deferred, Hearts Restored
[62:06] - Message Paraphrase of Mary’s Song
[64:06] - God’s Unchanging Worthiness
[66:19] - Receive Fresh Hope; Wait Well
[71:51] - Prayer of Surrender to Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (NLT)
Luke 1:46-55
"My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
—just as he promised our ancestors—
to Abraham and his children forever."

Observation questions

What words and images does Mary use to describe God’s character (e.g., “Mighty One,” “holy,” “mercy”)? How do those descriptions shape the way she can praise in the middle of uncertainty? [49:45]
Notice the actions Mary lists (scattering the proud, bringing down rulers, filling the hungry, sending the rich away). Which of those actions would have felt most surprising or hopeful in her cultural context? Why might those actions be good news for people who are waiting? [49:45]
The pastor contrasts the world’s definition of hope (a feeling or desire) with the biblical definition (expectation rooted in a Person). What specific phrase or explanation in the sermon helped you see that difference most clearly? [44:05]
Where in Luke 1:46-55 does Mary move from personal praise to declaring hope for others and generations? How does that shift help us understand the purpose of hope? [51:31]

Interpretation questions (third person, objective)

How does Mary’s statement that “he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant” function as an identity claim for someone who’s waiting and afraid? In what way might that change how a person regards their worth during a season of delay? [51:31]
The sermon emphasizes that biblical hope is “hope in” God rather than hoping for a particular outcome. What does it mean, practically and theologically, to ground one’s hope in God rather than an event or result? [47:08]
The preacher says waiting should form us and not drain us, and that how we wait matters (we steward what’s in our hands with expectancy). What are the possible spiritual dangers of passive or fear-driven waiting, and what changes when waiting is purposeful? [59:03]
Proverbs warns that "hope deferred makes the heart sick," and the sermon urges re-anchoring hope in God. How might re-anchoring hope restore "interior strength"? What spiritual practices in the sermon support that process? [01:00:05]

Application questions (specific and personal)

Identify one hope you have deferred (a relationship, job, healing, child, etc.). What is one concrete step you will take this week to re-anchor that hope in God’s character rather than in the outcome? (Write the step and when you will do it.) [01:00:05]
Mary chooses to praise even while afraid. When anxiety or fear comes, what is one short, truthful sentence about God you will speak out loud to yourself this week (for example, “God is merciful” or “God remembers the humble”)? Make it specific and memorize it. [49:45]
The pastor used the image of waiting for a service tech: you don’t stand at the door the whole time; you steward life with expectancy. What is one daily habit (prayer, serving, a practical task) you will start or keep this week that demonstrates “purposeful waiting”? When exactly will you do it? [59:03]
Mary’s hope moves from personal to generational—she declares mercy for others. Name one person in your life who needs hope right now. What will you say or do to bring hope to them this week (a call, a visit, a text with Scripture, a practical help)? Be specific about timing. [54:12]
The sermon invites reclaiming hope by remembering God’s track record. Which verse from Luke 1:46-55 could you memorize this week to help you remember God’s faithfulness in the waiting? What is your plan for memorizing it (when and how)? [49:45]
If you have not yet placed your ultimate hope in Jesus (or you’re unsure), what is the next practical step you can take this week (talk with a leader, join a group, read a short gospel, or pray a prayer of surrender)? Who will you tell about that step and when will you do it? [01:11:51]

Sermon Clips

``Despite what I'm going through, I know who holds tomorrow. Despite what I'm feeling and experiencing in this right now kind of temporal moment, I know who holds tomorrow. It's not my circumstances that are praising and rejoicing. It's my soul. It's my spirit. It's not even my feelings that are rejoicing and praising God. Nothing horrible, nothing surprising, nothing unexpected or frustrating or painful has enough power to change who my God is. He's still worthy of praise. I still choose to rejoice in him, my God, my Savior. [00:53:01] (39 seconds) #HopeBeyondCircumstances

For the follower of Jesus, real hope has us remembering and declaring what we know to be true about God, even before we see it with our own eyes. Where in your life does hope seem lost? Where in your life has your vision and your eyes gone internal to despair and to pain and to hurt, where the Holy Spirit invites you to find hope and then share that hope from generation to generation? [00:57:00] (25 seconds) #ShareGenerationalHope

But many of us are like, I had hoped that, dot, dot, dot, but it still hasn't happened. And so we defer our hope. And Proverbs says that hope deferred makes the heart sick. Is your heart, is your inner life tormented and diseased because you've deferred your hope? A dream fulfilled is a tree of life. So we're waiting for fulfillment. I'd rather choose in faith to not defer my hope than be left with a sick heart. [00:59:51] (36 seconds) #ChooseHopeNow

So for the follower of Christ, real hope has us remembering, but also declaring that we know to be true about God, what we know to be true about all that Jesus reveals about the Father, even before we see it with our own eyes. And if you're taking notes, I want you to write that down today. And in a moment of despair, you can say, I'm a follower of Jesus. And so I remember that real hope has me remembering and then singing songs of praise, declaring words with my own mouth of what I know to be true about God's faithfulness and mercy from generation to generation. [01:01:00] (37 seconds) #PraiseBeforeProof

My prayer is unanswered, but guess what? My hope is secure. The outcome looked different than I imagined, but guess what? My hope is secure. I'm still waiting, but my hope is unwavered. And so as we close today, I want to ask, where have you lost hope because you've been looking at the outcome rather than resting in the one who holds all the outcome? [01:01:37] (29 seconds) #HopeOverOutcome

Nothing horrible, nothing surprising, nothing unexpected, nothing frustrating, nothing painful has enough power to change who our God is. And one of the lies of the enemy is to try and convince us that because we're not holding, tasting, and seeing what we wished for, that somehow God is evil. And that shows up in subtle ways, in powerful, deceptive lies straight from the pit of hell. [01:04:19] (34 seconds) #GodUnmovedByCircumstance

I want to just like infuse some hope into God's people today, that he's still worthy of my praise, even when I can't see it. That he is still worthy to be rejoiced in as my Savior God, even when I'm not feeling it. He's still holy. He's still done great things for me, for his people, for his church. We still have Christ. And we hold on because the very same power that raised Jesus up out of the grave has taken up residence in us. [01:04:53] (39 seconds) #PraiseWhenYouCantSee

How are you waiting? Are you waiting well? This is Mary's example of hope for the follower of Jesus. Real hope has us waiting well. It has us remembering and singing and dancing and declaring all that we know to be true about our good God. All that we know to be true about how Jesus reveals the Father's love, even before we see it with our own eyes. [01:05:35] (32 seconds) #WaitWellPractice

We choose to be a people of trust and faith that wait well. In our waiting, we're not going to be passive. We're going to be intentional about praying blessing over generation to generation, about moving out with authority and purpose to participate in the mission and the message of Christ. We're going to be intentional about using our voices to lift high the name of a faithful God, even if we have to say right now, I'm not sure how faithful he's been in this moment, but I know who he is. And this isn't about you feeling it. It's about you faithfully declaring it. [01:06:49] (41 seconds) #DeclareFaithDaily

We join with ancient creation that was anticipating the arrival of a Messiah. We celebrate the truth that Christ was born of a virgin, came into this world, not just to live a good life, but to redeem humanity. We join in heaven's great love story as we find ourselves in that story of forgiveness and hope and redemption today. We wait well. As a family on mission, we wait well in this season for what we're believing for, for the promises we're expecting to see come to pass. We take you at your word and we don't waver or wane or grow cold in the waiting, but we tether our life in Christ, our living hope. [01:11:11] (49 seconds) #TetheredToHope

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